UK poised to water down 2030 EV sales targets after industry and union pressure

Keir Starmer ready to overrule Ed Miliband after warnings that manufacturers would be penalised and jobs put at risk

The UK government is poised to water down its 2030 targets for electric vehicle sales after intense lobbying by the car industry and unions.

The government is preparing to consult on less ambitious targets for the transition to fully battery-powered electric cars over the rest of the decade after carmakers and unions warned that they would penalise manufacturers and put jobs at risk.

Under the watered-down proposals, hybrid vehicles could be allowed to make up a far bigger proportion of the UK’s car sales in the medium term by softening the mandate for pure electric cars from 80% of all sales by 2030 to 50% by the end of the decade.

Government sources stressed that the 2030 ban on the sale of new purely petrol or diesel cars would still apply, meaning 50% of car sales would be hybrid electric. The government’s 2035 deadline for phasing out new hybrid cars is understood to remain in place.

The government’s electric vehicle targets, known as the zero emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate, were first introduced under the Conservatives in 2023 to force carmakers to increase sales of electric cars up to 80% by 2030.

The latest proposed change would mark the second time since coming to power that the Labour government has weakened the rules by allowing carmakers can sell more hybrid vehicles.

Ministers tweaked the mandate rules last year to allow prolonged sales of plug-in hybrid cars – which have petrol engines and a small battery – in a move that campaigners warned would significantly drive up emissions. Just under 14% of sales are now plug-in hybrid.